Russia may be practicing an attack on a satellite transmitting data to Ukraine, a military space expert told Reuters. The State Department said that in mid-October, the Russian military satellite Cosmos 2612 was "deliberately maneuvered dangerously close to a commercial satellite" in a manner "consistent with orbital weapons operations." The satellite, known as X36, is operated by the Finnish company ICEYE and provides radar images to Western governments and militaries, including Ukraine. Three space experts described the event as one of the closest known encounters between a Russian military spacecraft and a commercial satellite in low orbit. "It looks like a return to the offensive," said Greg Gillinger, senior space analyst at Integrity ISR. At the same time, experts point out that the approach itself does not prove the intention to attack. The ICEYE satellite continues to operate, but other Russian satellites are already maneuvering near other satellites of the company. "Medina" website X/Twitter | Send news/photo/video | Advertising on the | channel help.

Russia may be practicing an attack on a satellite transmitting data to Ukraine, a military space expert told Reuters. The State Department said that in mid-October, the Russian military satellite Cosmos 2612 was "deliberately maneuvered dangerously close to a commercial satellite" in a manner "consistent with orbital weapons operations." The satellite, known as X36, is operated by the Finnish company ICEYE and provides radar images to Western governments and militaries, including Ukraine. Three space experts described the event as one of the closest known encounters between a Russian military spacecraft and a commercial satellite in low orbit. "It looks like a return to the offensive," said Greg Gillinger, senior space analyst at Integrity ISR. At the same time, experts point out that the approach itself does not prove the intention to attack. The ICEYE satellite continues to operate, but other Russian satellites are already maneuvering near other satellites of the company. "Medina" website X/Twitter | Send news/photo/video | Advertising on the | channel help.